Whirlpool Corp., LG Electronics settle refrigerator patent disputes

LG Electronics and Whirlpool Corp. have agreed to settle their respective patent infringement disputes related to refrigerators, ending years of litigation between the two companies. Three pending lawsuits will be dismissed in the U.S. District Courts in Delaware and New Jersey, according to the announcement. All other terms of the settlement are confidential.

The patents, which related to bottom-mount refrigerators and ice-making machines, were also the subject of rulings by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. For the most part, the rulings favored LG’s position.

The two companies are still at odds over another kitchen appliance, however. Earlier this year, Whirlpool accused both LG and Samsung of “dumping” residential washers made in Mexico and South Korea and below fair value. The ITC, after initially siding with Whirlpool, later ruled that LG had not caused material injury to U.S. manufacturers.

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